Overview
- The KNVB announced Monday that Virgil van Dijk and Brian Brobbey have withdrawn from the current Netherlands squad after failing to return fit from weekend club matches.
- Liverpool issued a club statement saying Van Dijk will not join the Netherlands because of a fitness issue and he had played the full 90 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
- Brobbey was substituted with a muscular problem in Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Chelsea and the club and national staff judged him not fit enough to continue with the squad.
- Head coach Xavi will not call up replacements and will continue preparations with a 23-man group ahead of Nations League games against Greece on November 13 and Germany on November 16.
- The withdrawals underline rising club concern over player fitness during international windows and could tighten selection options for the Netherlands as they aim to protect their spot for the Nations League quarter-finals.